Envelop-opener.



0. H. CRAWFORD.

ENVELOB OPENER.

APPLIOATIQN PILED JUNE 3, 1911.

Patented May 28, 1912.

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CARL CRAWFORD, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OE COLUMBIA.

- ENVELOP-OPENER.

Specifieation of Letters Patent.

Patented May 28,1912.

Application filed June 3, 1911. Serial No. 631,094.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CARL H. CRAWFORD, a citizen of the United States, residing at WVashington, in the District of Columbia, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Envelop-Openers, of which the folunsealed Without any way disrupting or tearing the flap, the unsealing operation being preferably effected by disruption of the hardened gum or adhesive with which the flap is sealed.

My invention will be more fully described in connection with the accompanying drawing and will be more. particularly pointed out in and by the appended claims. I

In the drawing :Figure 1 is a view in side elevation showing an evelop with the flap sealed and illustrating one embodiment ofmy invention; Fig. 2 is a similar view of the envelop showing the flap open.

As illustratedin the drawing, 1 designates the body of an envelop and 2 designates a flap forming a partthereof. As shown the flap is formed as an integral part of the envelop. As illustrated,,the flap is provided with a suitable adhesive or gum 3 extending along its margin and by means of which .it may be sealed to the body 1. In this particular form of my invention, as applied to,

this particular style of envelop, a cord or thread like opener 4 is attached to the flap 2 by the gummed or adhesive material origi nally applied to the flap when the envelop is made. At least one end of the opener 4 should be exposed and this feature is ac- Eomplished by'havingat least one end actu ally project from between the flap and envelopbody so as to be grasped by the user. In the particular embodimentshown, both ends of the opener project slightly outwardly from beneath the flap.

It is desirable to adhere the opener to the 'flap closely adjacent the inner margin 5 of the gummed or adhesive material, as illustrated in Fig. 2. It is also very desirable to have the opener extend substantially throughout the length of the gummed strip 2 and preferably in a manner to conform to the shape of said gummed strip 2. j

It will be'seen that when the gummed strip is moistened and the flap is sealed upon the body of the envelop, that the adhesive substance sealingthe flap will also hold the opener in position thereby avoiding any alteration in the shape or construction of the flap or envelop, and also entirely avoiding any auxiliary means for holding the opener. Furthermore the opener mayreadily be applied to the envelop when the flap is origi-- nally gummed without substantially departing from the present methods used in manufacturing envelops.

Usually the outermost marginal portions of the flap are moistened to a greater extent than the inner portions and therefor by disposing the opener near the inner portion 5 the danger of loosening the opener from the flap before the flap is sealed is entirely avoided. However the slight application of moisture to the gummed or adhesive strip would never be suflicient to loosen the opener under any ordinary conditions.

It will be seen that when one of the exposed ends of the openerA, Fig. 1, is pulled downwardly in the direction of the arrow,

the opener will serve to disrupt the adhesive which seals theflap without in any way mutilating or destroying the flap itself. By

disposing the opener in the position shown only a slight portion 6, of the adhesive, will not be disrupted but it will readily be understood that a slight pressure on the freed margin of the flap will readily serve to break the thin strip of adhesive and permit the fiap to pen and remain intact. It will also be obvious that the body of the envelop, adjacent. the flap, will not in any way be injured. It will also be noted that as the gummed portion serves as a holding means for the opener, it is most advantageous that the opener should be held substantially throughout the length of the gummed. strip so that the opener itself will not be disengaged from the envelop until the sealing material has been substantially entirely disrupted, as otherwise the opener might be withdrawn under the pull imparted to unseal the flap any time prior to complete severance of the sealed margin thereof.

My invention can be embodied with great advantage in expensive stationary envclops used for formal announcements and other social matters where it is desirable to retain the envelop in good condition as a con: tainerfor the contents; In this utility of my invention the opener might take the form of a very fine thread of silk or other suitable material having a color appropriate to the tint of the envelop thereby making the opener a feature of esthetic value to the attractiveness of the envelop, as Well as an element of utility. Another highly useful function of my invention is in connection with the extremely larger sized envelops which are relatively expensive and which are very desirable for use in remailing. It is well known that the stability of an envelop is greatly impaired when the flap is disrupted or torn when opened as an intact flap is an element of strength to the envelop during transmission. I i

The opener is. completely detached when I the flap is opened thereby.

It is desirable to use an opener of a noninetallic character so that no objection would arise from its being accidentally caught by packages and other articles in transmission, and also to prevent any injury to the mail bags and inconvenience inhandling.

While I'have herein described and illustrated one particular embodiment of my invention it will be understood that I do not i wish to be limited to this particular form shown except for such limitations as the x r I with an envelop comoriginally applied thereto and having one end exposed whereby the flap may be opened by disrupting the gum.

2. In combination with an envelop com the gum.

4. In combination with an envelop comprising a body portion and a flap portion,

and a cord-like opener gummed to one of.

said portions and so disposed as to lie be neath the flap when the same is sealed on the body portion whereby the flap .may be opened by disrupting the gum.

5. An envelop having a flap sealed thereon I and means disposed beneath the flap for disrupting the sealing substance without injuring the flap or envelop.

Witness whereof I append my signature in the presence of two witnesses, at W'ashington, D. 0., third of June, 1911.

- CARL H. CRAWFORD. Witnesses: 2

DUDLEY E. BURDINE, v MARGUERITE A. HEFLING. 

